Elia Viviani
Italy's premier sprinter of his generation, he conquered stages in all three Grand Tours and seized Olympic gold on the track.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Italian cyclist·Birthday: February 7·Millennials
Biography
Elia Viviani operated at the intersection of raw speed and tactical intelligence, becoming Italy's most decorated sprinter of the 2010s. Hailing from Verona, he was a rare hybrid, dominating both the road and the velodrome. On the track, he was a key part of Italy's team pursuit squad, winning World Championship gold and, most gloriously, Olympic gold at the 2016 Rio Games. On the road, he developed into a pure bunch sprinter with a killer instinct in the final 200 meters. He notched stage wins in all three Grand Tours—the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a España—a testament to his versatility and consistency. His 2019 season with Deceuninck–Quick-Step was a masterclass, where he racked up 18 victories including a stage at the Tour de France. Viviani's career was defined by his ability to switch codes and surfaces, always with the same explosive finish, making him a constant threat in any race that ended in a furious dash for the line.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Elia was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Elia Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Elia's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the gold medal in the omnium at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
- Achieved stage victories in all three Grand Tours: the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a España.
- Won the European Road Race Championships in 2019.
- Captured multiple medals at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, including gold in the team pursuit in 2016.
Did You Know?
Before focusing on cycling, he was a promising football (soccer) player in his youth.
He won the points classification (maglia ciclamino) at the 2018 Giro d'Italia.
He is married to fellow Italian cyclist Elena Cecchini.
“The sprint is a chess game at fifty miles per hour.”
